If you are heading to Australia - whether for a partner visa, a skilled worker application, a citizenship process, or to register your UK qualifications with an Australian professional body - the good news is that Australia is one of the most straightforward destinations for UK document legalisation. It is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, it is English-speaking, and there is no embassy attestation or translation requirement for most documents. Once the apostille is on, the document is ready.
What typically needs apostilling for Australian applications
The documents most commonly apostilled for Australian use are birth certificates for partner visa and citizenship applications, marriage certificates for spousal visa processes, degree certificates and professional qualifications for skills assessments and employer requirements, ACRO Police Certificates for character checks, and certified passport copies where the receiving authority requests one. Each follows its own preparation route before FCDO submission, but the Australian side is consistent - apostille and done.
Documents that go straight to the FCDO
Birth, marriage and death certificates issued by the GRO, a local register office, the National Records of Scotland or GRONI carry the official registrar's wet-ink signature or seal and can be submitted directly to the FCDO without solicitor certification. An ACRO Police Certificate bearing a wet-ink signature from an authorised official also goes directly. The FCDO authenticates the wet-ink signature, seal or stamp on the document and attaches the apostille - a physical paper certificate fixed to the back of the original.
Documents that need solicitor certification first
Degree certificates, diplomas, professional qualifications, employer letters and reference letters are not government-issued and carry no official signature the FCDO can verify. A UK solicitor or Notary Public must certify these before FCDO submission. Certified passport copies also require solicitor or Notary Public certification - the original passport cannot be submitted because the apostille is a physical paper that must be attached to the document.
e-Apostille or paper
Some document types are eligible for the e-Apostille service, which is faster and produces a digital certificate rather than a physical one. Australian authorities generally accept e-Apostilles where available. GRO certificates, ACRO certificates and DBS certificates are paper apostille only and are not eligible for e-Apostille. Confirm with the receiving Australian body whether they have a preference.
No embassy attestation, no translation
Because Australia is a Hague Convention member and English-speaking, the apostille is the final step. There is no Australian embassy attestation stage and no translation requirement for standard UK documents. This makes Australia one of the fastest destinations to prepare documents for. Call our team on +44 (0) 204 646 9500 to confirm your document list and arrange the apostille.